Mechanical massaging device



Sept. 22, 1953 KALLMEYER 2,652,826

MECHANICAL MASSAGING DEVICE Filed March 26, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l w 24 24 5 46 if 35 36 54 54 "II 7 IA W 52 Ill INVENTOR.

55 g ffifazmcx A. KALLMEYM 55 BY gg; j W@M p 22, 1953 F. A. KALLMEYER 2,65,2fi

MECHANICAL MASSAGING DEVICE Filed March 26, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FREDERICK A. KALLMEYM :IIIAAII Patented Sept. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MECHANICAL MASSAGING DEVICE Frederick A. Kallmeyer, South Orange, N. J.

Application March 26, 1951, Serial No. 217,573

12 Claims.

I The present invention relates to a noveland improved pneumatic massaging devic for the treatment of the human extremities.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof illustrate two embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a pneumatic massaging device in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 as it is actually used;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modified embodiment of the present invention especially adapted for the treatment of a patients limb; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a'novel and improved mechanical massaging device which is adapted to manipulate the body tissues of an extremity, such as an arm or leg, and to continue this tissue manipulation in a predetermined manner for the desired length of time. A further object of the invention is the provision of a mechanical massaging device having an improved massaging or manipulative action on the body tissues and which can manipulate the tissues in a manner that can be accomplished only with extreme difliculty by manual manipulation. A further object of the invention is the provision of a mechanical massaging device which is portable and which can be easily used by the patient without necessarily requiring skilled assistance. Still another object is the provision of a mechanical massaging device which can be so formed as to substantially enclose the entire, extremity, and which in operation manipmat s al o t e t ssues of t e extremity rather 2 than the tissues in a limited area on the extremity.

In accordance with the present invention, the massaging device comprises a plurality of tubelike members which are adjacent and parallel to each other and are joined throughout their length on their adjacent edges to form a sheet of the desired width and length, each of the tube-like members being formed as a flexible-walled, long and narrow tube which is adapted to be more or less firmly inflated with air and forms a closed pneumatic chamber, the group of attached tubelike members thus forming a mattress-like structure which may be supported on a table, or which may be wrapped around the extremity to form a hollow, elongated body enclosing and in contact with the extremity. The tube-like members are preferably formed from high flexible, air- -impervious, plastic material such as vinyl or polyethylene sheet plastic, two such sheets being preferably cemented or heat-sealed together along parallel longitudinal lines and at their ends to form the group of tubular air-filled members. Against a short portion of the tube-like members near one end thereof is provided a stationary abutment and presser means to squeeze the ends of the tubes individually against this abutment member so as to compress the air within the tubes and thereby massage that portion of the extremity lying against the particular tube. The presser means are preferably cyclically actuated, as by means of roller members or cam members so that a particular or desired sequence of operation may be maintained throughout the manipulative treatment. Where the mattress-like assembly of tube-like members is used as the upper surface of a massaging table, one end portion of the tubes is preferably positioned beneath the top of the table, and their pivoted members actuated by individual cams are moved to compress and then relieve the air within the several tubes so that as the patient lies on the tube-like members, his body is massaged at those points Where it rests on the air-filled members. Where the massaging device is to be used for the treatment of an extremity, it may be wrapped around the extremity to form a hollow, elongated sheath, and one end of the assembly is encased within a stationary support against which the tubes are individually compressed by oppositely moving rollers revolving about a common axis and driven at a slow speed by suitable motor means.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, which illustrate a typical and preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pneumatic massaging device is shown as forming the upper surface of a massaging table on which the patient may lie in a supine position. As embodied the upper surface of the table is in interrupted at an intermediate point l2 and one end of the table is covered with a thick somewhat resilient pad M adapted to support the patients legs and thighs, while at the other end of the table there is provided a short head-rest l8 spaced from the upper surface of the table by means of the end supports 18 and covered with a pad or cushion 253 on which the patients head may rest.

Between the pad l4 and the head-rest l5, and underlying the head-rest I6 is provided a group of longitudinally extending parallel pneumatic tube-like members 22 which form a mattress-like structure 2 3, each of the tubes being relatively long and narrow and of approximately the same size, and preferably formed from two superposed sheets 26 of highly flexible, air-impervious plastic material such as vinyl or polyethylene sheet plastic, the sheets being joined together, as by cementing or heat-sealing along the lines between the tubes 22, and at the ends of the tubes to isolate the tubes 22 from each other and make each one of the tubes a separate air-holding member. At one end, each of the tubes is provided with a manually operated Valve 33 through which air may be introduced into or released from the tubes so that each of them may be initially inflated to the desired pressure, which in most instances will be only slightly more than atmospheric pressure. Away from the patients head the tubes 22 forming the mattress-like structure 2d, pass through the transverse slot E2 in the table top It, and extend along the underside of the table beneath the patients thighs and legs, the upperside of the mattress-like structure at this point preferably resting in contact with the underside of the table, while that portion of the mattress structure 24 beneath the patients torso is preferably supported on the table top it] through an intermediate pad 32 which may conventionally be formed of a thick layer of sponge rubber or other resilient material. As the patient lies on the device in the position shown in Figure 1, his thighs and legs are firmly supported by the resilient pad I4, his head and neck are supported on the pad or pillow portion 25, while his shoulders, arms, back and buttocks are supported by the air-filled pneumatic tubes 22.

Means are provided for continuously, cyclically and rhythmically varying the air pressure within the individual tubes 22 so that those portions of the patients body supported by the mattress-like structure 2d are continuously and rapidly massaged and the body tissues are manipulated in a manner that can only be accomplished manually with the greatest of manipulative difliculty. The pneumatic tubes are actuated so that the pressure on the air within the two outside tubes is simultaneously increased, and the air pressure on successively adjacent tubes is increased until it is the tubes adjacent the central tubes which are subjected to the increased air pressure, at which time the pressure in the outer pair of tubes has been reduced to its normal value, after which the cycle is restarted with the pressure on the outside pair of tubes being increased followed by a gradual increase in the pressure of the air within the individual tubes progressively toward the center of the mattress. hereby a wave-like action is rapidly produced with the pressure being aplied to the patients back beginning at both sides of his body and gradually working toward the central axis of his body as defined by the spine.

As illustratively shown in Figures 1-, 2, 3, the embodied means for creating this pressure cycle in the individual pneumatic tubes 22 comprises a plurality of individually pivoted bars or slats 34, each slat comprising a relatively rigid member of approximately the same width as the individual pneumatic tubes 22, and somewhat longer than the portion of the tubes which underlie the table top In, each of the slats 34 being individually pivoted by means of a pivotal mounting 35 on a rock shaft 38 supported by brackets 33 on the underside of the table. Means are providcd for pneumatically and cyclically rocking the slats 34 about their pivots so that the portion or" the tubes 22 underlying the table act as pumps or bellows to change the air pressure within the tubes 22 thereby varying the degree or" support afforded by the individual tubes to the back of the patient. As embodied, an electric motor a l drives pulley 46 through reduction gearing it and belt Ell, pulley 46 being mounted on shaft 52 which is rotatably journalled in bearing rackets 54 supported on the underside of the table it. On the shaft 52 are provided a plurality of eccentrics 58, one for each of the slats 36, or a total of IL as shown in the illustrative embodiment. The eccentrics 58 on one lateral half of the table are preferably displaced 60 from the adjacent eccentric, while the two eccentries 58 at the center of the table are similarly angularly positioned on the shafts as are the corresponding eccentrics away from the center of the table. Thus, the outermost eccentrics 58 are simultaneously compressing the outermost tubes 22 and as the maximum degree of compression is reached on the outermost tubes, the pressure on each successive tube toward the central pair is being increased or reduced in accordance with the particular phase setting of its individual cam.

Other settings of the eccentrics 58 may be made, of course, but in all instances it is preferable to have the pressure increased simultaneously in the two outside tubes 22, and for this increased pressure to be applied successively to the tubes closer to the center, finally reaching the central tube or tubes and thereafter beginning again on the outside pair of tubes.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the individual slats 3A are lettered with reference characters and similar reference characters indicate the slats which are simultaneously in phase with each other as actuated by their individual eccentrics 58. As shown, the two slats marked a are simultaneously moved to the position of maximum air pressure, after which the two slats "1) simultaneously reach that same position and so The volume of air within the bellows portion of the tubes 22 is preferably about one-half the volume of the air within the remainder of the tubes 22, and the eccentrics 58 cooperate with the slats 3 so that the volume of air within the bellows'portion is reduced to about two-thirds of its original value as the tubes are deformed for maximum air compression. Thus, in a typical case, and assuming an initial air pressure within the tubes 22 of "approximately 770mm, this pres sure within the tubes supporting the patients body may be increased to about 790 mm.', result ing in a considerable deflection of the tubes at the point where they support the main load of the patients back side, while the full stroke of the corresponding slat 34 will increase the pressure within the corresponding tube 22 to about 850 mm., which will eliminate most of the deflection and cause'a corresponding movement in that portion of the patients body thereby resulting in manipulation of the body tissues at the point where the body is supported by the tube. Inasmuch as thedefiectio'npf the tubes causes the group of them to form a support for the major portion of the back side, this lifting and lowering of the body at those points manipulates all of the tissues in contact with the mattress-like structure 24.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a modified embodiment of the invention particularly adapted for manipulation of the body tissues of a patients arm or leg. As embodied, the pneumatic tubes I22 are constructed similarly to those previously described, and form an assembly of parallel interconnected tubes each of which contains its individual volume of air separate from the air in the other tubes, the air pressure within each tube being regulated by means of the valves 30 as previously described. The grou of tubes I22 is wrapped around the patients arm or, as shown in Figure 5, around his leg, and the tubes I22 are pressed and held lightly against the extremity by means of the flexible belts or straps I24 which are secured by buckles I26 so as to allow for adjustment to different sized extremities. The straps I are preferably separate from the tubes I22 so that they maybe conveniently spaced along the extremity to apply the pressure where it is particularly needed. The group of tubes I22 thus wrapped around the extremity form an elongated hollow body within which the extremity is received, and in the case of a foot, the outermost edges of the group of tubes I22 may spread apart.

Cyclically varying the air pressure within the individual tubes I22, a rigid hollow cylindrical casing I30 is provided within which the ends of the tubes I22 are inserted. The hollow cylindrical member I30 is preferably formed of rigid metal, and is provided at one end with an end wall H32, and is supported on a bracket I34 fast to the top I36 of the table. Axially of the cylindrical member I30 is disposed a shaft I 38 rotatable within a sleeve I40 which in turn is j ournalled for rotation in a bearing I42 supported on the wall I32, so that the shaft I38 and sleeve I40 may rotate independently of each other. Shaft I30 and sleeve I 40 are provided with radial extensions in which are journalled the roller members I 44 and I 46 parallel to the shaft I 30 and so spaced as to cause substantial deflection of the ends of the air-filled tubes I22 as the shaft I38 or sleeve I40 are rotated, thereby varying the air pressure within the corresponding tube I22 which at that moment is deflected by the pressure exerted on it by the corresponding roller.

At their external ends shaft I38 and sleeve I40 are fastened to pulleys I 48 and I50 by which these pulleys and the shaft I38 and sleeve I40 are rotated, and the rollers I 44 and I46 are revolved at the desired slow speed, being driven by the belts I52 from a suitable motor, not shown. The shaft I38 and sleeve I40 are driven in opposite directions of rotation so that the muscle tissues of the extremity enclosed within the hollow interior'portion' of the group of air-filled tubes I 22, are manipulated first by being compressed toward a central portion and then gently drawn away from that central portion. It will be understood that the rollers I 44 and I46, cooperating' with-the ends of the tubes I22 as these tubes are rigidly supported by the external cylindrical casing I30, cause the enclosed portions of the tube ends to act as bellows thereby varying the air pressure within the remainder of the individual portions 'of the tubes, and causing corresponding movement of the body tissues at those points where the tubes I22 contact with them.

The invention in'its broader aspects is not limited to the'specific mechanism shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

l. A pneumatic massaging device including in combination a plurality of flexible-walled, long and narrow, tube-like members adjacent and parallel to each other, each of said members being formed as a closed pneumatic chamber, stationary support means and a plurality of pressers corresponding to the number of said tube-like members, said pressers being movable with respect to said tube-like members, one end of each tube-like member being positioned between said stationary supporting means and said corresponding presser whereby the air Within that chamber may be compressed as the end of the member is compressed by movement of the presser, and means for cyclically moving said pressers whereby the remainder of the tube-like members contacting with the body massage the body.

2. A massaging device as claimed in claim 1 in which the tube-like members are interconnected and form an upper surface of a massage table with the supporting means forming the lower surface of said massage table.

3. A massaging device as defined in claim 1 wherein the stationary supporting means is a table top, said tube-like members being positioned beneath said table top.

4. A massaging device as defined in claim 1 in which the means for cyclically moving the tube-like members is so constructed that the tube-like members are cyclically moved in sequence from the edges toward the centre of the group of said tube-like members.

5. A massaging device as claimed in claim 4 in which the pressers are pivotally mounted and cyclically actuated by means of coaxial, individual rotatable cams.

6. A massaging device as claimed in claim 4 in which the tubes are formed into a hollow body to encase the extremity to be massaged.

'7. A massaging device as claimed in claim 6 in which the pressers comprise a pair of rotatable coaxial members driven in opposite directions of rotation.

8. A massaging device as claimed in claim 1 in which the tube-like members are formed into a hollow body to encase the extremity to be massaged and the stationary member comprises a hollow external casing for the tubes at one end thereof.

9. A massaging device as claimed in claim 8 in which the pressers comprise a pair of oppositely rotatable coaxial members contacting with and compressing the tubes at one end thereof.

19 A pneuma ic ma sa in Q in ud n n ombinat on a urality of fl -w l d, long narrow, tube-like members adjacent and parallel to each other and joined together throughout their length along their adjacent edges, each of the members being formed as a closed pneumatic chamber, a stationary support for each member near one end thereof, presser means acting individually on the supported ends of the tube-like members for compressing the air in the tube-like members, and means for cyclically moving the presser means.

11. A massaging device as claimed in claim 10 in which the presser means are pivotally mounted and are individually moved by rotatable coaxial cams.

12. A massaging device as claimed in claim 10 in which the tube-like members are formed into an elongated hollow body, and the presser means comprise a pair of oppositely revolving coaxial members each having a roller to press against an end of a tube FREDERICK A. KALLMEYER.

Name Date Poor m--. Nov. 7, 1943 Number 

